Focusing on issues of road safety is the theme of the provincial Transport Month of activities in the Northern Cape.

Martha Bartlett , MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison in the province says, “We will use the month of October to intensify our 365 Days of Road Safety programmes.”

“All provincial law enforcement officers have been instructed to play their part to reduce fatalities and they will adopt a zero tolerance approach to lawlessness, especially towards alcohol and drug use.”

In South Africa, October is marked as Transport Month and the Government uses the month to increase road safety awareness and to celebrate the critical role transport plays in changing the economy through providing efficient, reliable and safe public transport.

From the beginning of this year until June, a total of 4 324 accidents were recorded.

Concludes Bartlett, “This figure should be reduced significantly through vigorous law enforcement campaigns. Ensuring we create safer roads across the Northern Cape.”

“Contributing factors [to accidents] include abuse of alcohol by both drivers and pedestrians, speeding, using cell phones while driving, dangerous overtaking at barrier lines, defective tyres, pedestrian negligence due to drinking and walking, fatigue and failure to wear seatbelts.”

Source – SAnews.gov.za